Sales Associate applicants have rated the interview process at DSW with 2 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 75% positive. To compare, the company-average is 74.1% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Sales Associate roles take an average of 10 days to get hired, when considering 423 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at DSW overall takes an average of 12 days.
Common stages of the interview process at DSW as a Sales Associate according to 423 Glassdoor interviews include:
One on one interview: 33%
Background check: 15%
Group panel interview: 10%
Personality test: 10%
Drug test: 9%
Skills test: 8%
Presentation: 5%
IQ intelligence test: 5%
Phone interview: 5%
Other: 0%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied in-person. The process took 1+ week. I interviewed at DSW (Bellevue, WA) in Sep 2011
Interview
I applied in person, and about a week later was called in for a group interview. there were a total of five of us sitting around a table. the manager asked about 15 questions or so and each person got a different question to answer. example questions: if you were a shoe, what type of shoe would you be and why? what is a bad/good customer experience? why DSW? ect. the interview was short and simple. i got a call about 3 days later and was told i was accepted for the sales associates position. the next step was for me to come to orientation with the appropriate information i.e. drivers license, passport, etc. the best part though is there was NO DRUG TEST.
What you’d expect for a PT sales associate position — 15-30 minutes long, one-on-one with the manager, and questions that you’d expect to answer for a retail sales associate job.
I applied through other source. I interviewed at DSW in Jun 2026
Interview
Easy! The manager listed times when she was available, and I was able to choose when to come in. The questions were really straightforward and conversational. I was also able to ask a lot of questions to see if it was a right fit for me!
I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at DSW (Maple Grove, MN)
Interview
Easy. Waited for a manager in the front took me to the back on for store and had the interview in a little room off to the side. Quick process called when I got the job.